Container



Nov. 17, 1964 o. M. KENDALL 3,157,343

CONTAINER Filed Feb. 7, 1963 l {/20 l l I I l I l i l l l INVENTOR. Ovm M. KENDALL MMQMUM AHovne s Unitcd States Patent 3,157,343 CONTAINER Ovid M. Kendall, 1909 Roxbury Lane, Muncie, Ind. Filed Feb. 7, 1%3, Ser. No. 256,888 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-22) The present invention relates to a container particularly useful as a receptacle for coat hangers.

When clothes are returned from the cleaners in a cleaned and pressed condition, they are usually accompanied by clothes hangers supplied by the cleaning establishment. Such hangers tend to accumulate in the customers closet and become a nuisance to the customer. On the other hand, the cleaning establishment must repeatedly purchase new hangers. Such purchases can be reduced if the hangers are returned by the customer to the cleaning establishment.

Consequently, one object of the invention is to provide an attractive, easily and conveniently used receptacle for accumulating and storing coat hangers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container which will fit perfectly in the corner of a room.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container suitably formed to receive the odd shape defined by a plurality of coat hangers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container incorporating means for aligning a plurality of coat hangers so that they may be easily and conveniently put into use by the cleaning establishment.

One embodiment of the present invention might include a triangular container comprising a piece of cardboard which includes three rectangular sections foldably connected end to end to form a shape which is triangular in cross section and in which two of said rectangular sections intersect one another at right angles. There is also provided a triangular bottom for the container, said bottom sloping upwardly from said intersection to engage the third of said rectangular sections and a top for said container having two downturned flanges at two of the edges for the top, said triangular top being foldably connected at a third of its edges to the third of said rectangular sections.

The full nature of the'invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following deform'the container of the present invention, said piece of cmdboard being shown in its flattened-out condition prior to assembly of the container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of bled condition.

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of with the top thereof in an open condition.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the container.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 1

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a flat piece of cardboard which is suitably formed so that it can be folded and assembled into the the container the container in assem ice container of FIGS. 2-5. The cardboard 10 includes a first rectangular portion 11 having opposite edges 12 to which are foldably connected rectangular sections 15. The distal edges 16 of the rectangular sections are normally connected together by tape 17 (FIGS. 2-4) in order to define the basic triangular configuration of a container. It should be mentioned that one of the rectangular sections 15 is scored along the line 20 so that the distal edges 16 can be taped together at the factory prior to shipment and storage of the box blank. After the distal edges E6 have been secured together by taping, the cardboard It is ready for erection into the configuration of FIGS. 2-5.

Foldably connected to the lower edge 21 of the rectangular section 11 is a trapezoidal section 22, the longer parallel edge 25 of which is coextensive with the edge 21. The shorter parallel edge 26 of the trapezoidal section is foldably connected to a triangular section 27. The triangular section27 has two sides 30 of equal length to which are foldably connected fia'ps 31.

At the bottom edge 32 of each of the rectangular Sections 15, there is foldably connected a fur-ther flap 35. Each of the further flaps 35 has a tab 36 projecting from the distal edge 37 of the further flap. When the container is assembled, the tabs 36 are inserted into slots 40 formed in the triangular section 27 at the junction of the triangular section'with the flaps 31. The triangular section 27 andthe flaps 31 are scored along the parallel lines 42 in order to permit insertion of the triangular section 27 and the flaps 31 into the bottom of the container. This is accomplished by first folding the structure along the lines 42 and then by folding along the lines 25 and 26 prior to pushing the trapezoidal section 22 and the triangular section 27 into the bottom of the container.

When the trapezoidal section 22 has been folded just about into engagement with the rectangular section 11, the structure will straighten out along the lines 42 but will fold along the lines 30 so that it conveniently snaps into the bottom of the container and defines the bottom for the container. In performing this operation of inserting triangular section 27 into the bottom of the container, the further flaps 35 should befold'ed outwardly so that they are not also folded into the container.

After the triangular section 27 has been folded into the container to the position illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, the

flaps 35 are folded over the'flaps 31 and the tabs 36 are inserted in the slots 46. The assembly of the bottom of the box is now complete. i

' It will be noted that the triangular section 27 slopes from a highest location along the fold 26 to a lowest location at the intersection ofthe rectangular sections 15."

The purpose of this slope is to provide greater space in the area 45 for the hooks 46 of the hangers 47. 'It has been found that these hooks tend to take up a greater amount of vertical space because of the construction of the hanger.

" 45 causes all of the hangers to be aligned so that they may be easily and conveniently put into use by the cleaning establishment.

, Each of the rectangular sections 15 is provided with a slot 59 which may be used as a handhold. V

Foldably connected to the edge 51 of the rectangular Patented Nov. 17, 1964- It will be seen that placing of the hangers in the triangular container with their hooks in the areais placed into engagement with the section 57. The sections 58 and 59 are then folded over the section 60 and the tabs 70 and 71 are inserted into slots 72 and 73 formed in the triangular section 52 at the junction thereof with the flap 57. The assembly of the top is completed by folding the section 63 relative to the section 61 until the tabs 75; and 76 are inserted in the slots 77 and 78 at the junction of the sections 52 and 61. Because of the fact that the top is foldably connected to the rectangular section 11, the top can be moved from the open condition of FIG. 3 to the closed condition of FIG. 2.

From the above description, it will be evident that the present invention provides an attractive, easily and conveniently used receptacle for accumulating and storing coat hangers. Because of the fact that the rectangular sections meet one another at a right angle, the container can be placed in a corner of a room with a perfect fit. It will also be evident that the container is suitably formed to receive the odd shape defined by a plurality of coat hangers. It will also be clear that the present invention incorporates means for aligning a plurality of coat hangers so that'they can be easily and conveniently put into use by the cleaning establishment.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. A triangular container comprising a piece of cardboard including a first rectangular section, a pair of rectangular sections connected to two of the opposite edges of said rectangular section, each of said pair of rectangular sections having distal ends which are taped to one another, said pair of rectangular sections being at right angles to one another, a triangular section defining the bottom of said container, said triangular section having a base equal in length to the distance between said two opposite edges of said rectangular section, said triangular section having two equal sides each of which are slightly longer. than the distance from said taped connection to either foldable connection of said rectangular sections, said triangular section sloping downwardly from said first rectangular section to said taped connection, and a right triangular section defining a top for said container foldably connected by its hypotenuse side to the fourth side of said first rectangularsection, said triangular section having downturned projections from its right angled sides, said downturned projections normally overlapping the pair of rectangular sections when said top is closed.

2. A triangular container comprising a piece of cardboard including a first rectangular section, a pair of rectangular sections connected" to two of the opposite edges of said'rectangular section, each of said pair of rectangular sections having distal ends which are taped to one another, said pair of rectangular sections being at right angles to one another, a trapezoidal section foldably connectcd to a thirdof the four edges of said first rectangular section,.said trapezoidal section having the longest of its parallel edges coextensive with said third edge of said first rectangular section, a triangular section foldably connected to said trapezoidal section at the shortest parallel edge thereof, said triangular section having a base equal in length to'the longest of the parallel edges of said trapezoidal section, said triangular section having two equal sides each of which are slightly longer than the distance from said taped connection to either foldable. connection of said rectangular sections, flaps coextensive with and foldably connected to each of said equal sides, said flaps having distal edges aligned with further edges of said pair of rectangular sections which define the bottom of said container, said triangular section defining a bottom for said container which bottom slopes downwardly from said trapezoidal section, said trapezoidal section being folded upwardly against said first rectangular section, said flaps being folded downwardly and engaging said pair of rectangular sections, a pair of locking flaps extending from said further edges of said pair of rectangular sections upwardly over said first flaps, said locking flaps having tabs at their distal ends, said triangular section having slots at the junction of said triangular section and said first flaps which slots receive said tabs.

3. A triangular container comprising a piece of cardboard including a first rectangular section, a pair of rectangular sections connected to two of the opposite edges of said rectangular section, each of said pair of rectangular sections having distal ends which are taped to one another, said pair of rectangular sections being at right angles to one another;

a trapezoidal section foldably connected to a third of the four edges of said first rectangular section, said trapezoidal section having the longest of its parallel edges coextensive with said third edge of said first rectangular section, a triangular section foldably connected to said trapezoidal section at the shortest parallel edge thereof, said triangular section having a base equal in length to the longest of the parallel edges of said trapezoidal section, said triangular sec tion having two equal sides each of which are slightly longer than the distance from said taped connection to either foldable connection of said rectangular sections, flaps coextensive with and foldably connected to each of said equal sides, said flaps having distal edges aligned with futher edges of said pair of rectangular sections which define the bottom of said container, said triangular section defining a bottom for said container which bottom slopes downwardly from said trapezoidal section, said trapezoidal section being folded upwardly against said first rectangular section, said flaps being folded downwardly and engaging said pair of rectangular sections, a pair of locking flaps extending from said further edges of said pair of rectangular sections upwardly over said first flaps, said locking flaps having tabs at their distal ends,.said triangular section having slots at the junction of said triangular section and said first flaps which slots receive said tabs;

and a right triangular section defining a top for said container foldably connected by its hypotenuse side to the fourth side of said first rectangular section, said triangular section having downturned projections from its right angled sides, said downturned projections normally overlapping the pair of rectangular sections when said top is closed.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A TRIANGULAR CONTAINER COMPRISING A PIECE OF CARDBOARD INCLUDING A FIRST RECTANGULAR SECTION, A PAIR OF RECTANGULAR SECTIONS CONNECTED TO TWO OF THE OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID RECTANGULAR SECTION, EACH OF SAID PAIR OF RECTANGULAR SECTIONS HAVING DISTAL ENDS WHICH ARE TAPED TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID PAIR OF RECTANGULAR SECTIONS BEING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO ONE ANOTHER, A TRIANGULAR SECTION DEFINING THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID TRIANGULAR SECTION HAVING A BASE EQUAL IN LENGTH TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID TWO OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID RECTANGULAR SECTION, SAID TRIANGULAR SECTION HAVING TWO EQUAL SIDES EACH OF WHICH ARE SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN THE DISTANCE FROM SAID TAPED CONNECTION TO EITHER FOLDABLE CONNECTION OF SAID RECTANGULAR SECTIONS, SAID TRIANGULAR SECTION SLOPING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST RECTANGULAR SECTION TO SAID TAPED CONNECTION, AND A RIGHT TRIANGULAR SECTION DEFINING A TOP FOR SAID CONTAINER FOLDABLY CONNECTED BY ITS HYPOTENUSE SIDE TO THE FOURTH SIDE OF SAID FIRST RECTANGULAR SECTION, SAID TRIANGULAR SECTION HAVING DOWNTURNED PROJECTIONS FROM ITS RIGHT ANGLED SIDES, SAID DOWNTURNED PROJECTIONS NORMALLY OVERLAPPING THE PAIR OF RECTANGULAR SECTIONS WHEN SAID TOP IS CLOSED. 